News
Check out what Kiley’s been up to!
54 Below Performance
Kiley made her New York City Performing Debut at 54 Below in November of 2025! She had so much fun being a part of the third iteration of the “Glitter Gel Pen Songs” Cabaret, Music directed by Rachel Sandler & Directed by Kenza Nejmi. What a dream come true to be able to perform at this iconic venue!
The Sound of Music
Kiley was thrilled to step into the fabulous shoes of the Baroness Elsa Schraeder in Riverside’s production of one of musical theatre’s most beloved classics, “The Sound of Music.” This 10-week-long run honored the 60th anniversary of the film. CEO, Producing Artistic Director & Director, Patrick A’Hearn, Associate Producing Artistic Director and Music Director Carson Eubank, Choreographer Stephanie Wood, and Associate Music Director David Landrum.
“Frau Schraeder (Kiley Ernest) and Max Detweiler (Jordan B. Stocksdale) perform in an excellent trio with Mr. Rogan’s Captain von Trapp in “How Can Love Survive” and “No Way to Stop It,” songs not in the film version.”
-MD Theatre Guide, 2025
“The sophisticated Baroness Elsa Schraeder, played by Kiley Ernest, and the endearingly pompous Max, played by Jordan B. Stocksdale. Elsa, a would-be suitor for Georg, and Max, a gadabout and artistic hustler, provide a bit of comic relief.“
-D.C. Theater Arts, 2025
The Rocky Horror Show
Kiley was thrilled to return to The Baltimore Theatre Project for her second production with Iron Crow Theatre! It was such a fun challenge to play Columbia & understudy Janet Weiss. This “pride-themed” production of the full Broadway musical featured a live cast, live rock band, lots of audience interaction, plus all the iconic callouts & prop-tossing chaos! It was a blast to join Iron Crow’s yearly Rocky Horror tradition in their highest-selling run of this deliberately kitschy rock ‘n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical yet!
CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Sean Elias
Stage Manager/Assistant Director: Allison Bradbury
Music Director/Keys: Michelle Henning
Choreographer: Arthur Cuadros
Intimacy Director: Shawna Potter
“Kiley Ernest is also adorable and terrific as Columbia, running through a gamut of emotions while dealing with being cast off by Frank and the fate of Eddie. She also gets to completely steal the spotlight in her final moments on stage.”
-HOTCHKA, 2025
Rocky Horror Preview Cabaret
Kiley performed as Columbia in a cabaret-style preview performance for Iron Crow Theater's upcoming production of "The Rocky Horror Show!" It was amazing getting to perform at the gorgeous Monarque restaurant in Baltimore! The Monarque hosts Baltimore’s best burlesque and cabaret performers, hosted by a rotating cast of vocalists performing modern hits and classic standards. Our fantastic cast was honored to perform there together prior to our June opening at Baltimore Theatre Project.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Kiley was thrilled to have the opportunity to play Mary Magdalene & sing this iconic 1970s rock score, including the well-known hit “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” Audiences witnessed the electrifying story of love, betrayal, and redemption as it’s never been told before at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia, March 12 - April 27 of 2025.
CREATIVE TEAM
Director: Patrick A’Hearn
Assistant Director: Daniel Pippert
Music Director Carson Eubank
Choreographer: Stephanie Wood
“As Mary Magdalene, Kiley Ernest sings a wondrous “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” She incorporates elements of gospel style into the song, which complements the rock opera elements of the show.”
-Mark Dreisonstok, 2025
MD Theatre Guide
National Anthem
Kiley had the honor of performing the National Anthem at a Fredericksburg Nationals baseball game on behalf of Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in April of 2025!
Heartbreak Hotel
Elvis is in the building! Kiley had a blast playing Priscilla Presley in Heartbreak Hotel. Audiences got to experience their favorite Elvis hits at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia!
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Kiley was thrilled to make her professional theatre debut as “Bex” in Iron Crow Theatre’s production of “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie!”
“…There’s a reason everybody’s talking about Jamie…this is why we need this company in this city right now. The entire company has talent to burn and burn up the stage they certainly do.”
— Bmore Art
Cabaret (Round 2!)
Kiley starred as Sally Bowles in Phoenix Festival Theatre’s production of Cabaret, directed by Bambi Johnson!
“Unhinged, off-the-charts, larger-than-life, erratic, wild, the thesaurus pages are wearing thin trying to find ways to accurately describe what Kiley Ernest has manifested in her portrayal of Sally Bowles. Again, following the luminous path of Bambi Johnson’s “Not-your-grandma’s-Cabaret,” Ernest doesn’t take Sally down a rabbit hole, she plunges her from the top of the Empire State Building straight down the Marina Trench at warp speed. And her overly heightened ‘English’ accent is perfectly aligned with this larger-than-life caricature of Sally Bowles. You get the sassy, saucy, insane (check the cocaine-use moments because Johnson & Ernest don’t shy away from those moments either) confidence that floods through “Don’t Tell Mama” and “Mein Herr”, with belting brash vocals to back up all of that chutzpah. But what’s truly striking— gob-smackingly unexpected— is “Maybe This Time” and it’s not just because of the insanely genius staging with the mirror. The way Ernest lets go in this number— it’s not the pitiable Liza-Minelli-ballad we’ve all heard a million times. It’s something else, a seeping desperation that creeps out from the darkest reaches of Ernest’s soul; it’s phenomenal. And I can’t even get into that whacked-out, strung-out, maniacal trainwreck performance (and I say trainwreck to encapsulate the magnitude of how shocking and truly unhinged it is, so ‘best use possible’ of the word, if you will) of “Cabaret”, where Ernest’s vocal and emotional intensity is so bombastic she actually shocks and scares some of the Kit Kat Girls who are just watching helpless from the tables. Kiley Ernest is a perfectly marvelous fit for the role and it is unlike any Sally Bowles you’ve ever seen.” -
-TheatreBloom Review, June 2023
Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret
WATCH CABARET FOOTAGE HERE
Kiley starred as Sally Bowles in Rider University’s spring production of Cabaret, directed by Broadway’s T. Oliver Reid, choreographed by Nathan Peck, and musically directed by Andy Hudson.
Senior Showcase
Kiley graduated in May of 2022 from Rider University with her BFA in Musical Theatre, and a minor in Arts and Entertainment Industries Management. Kiley is featured in the class of 2022’s virtual senior showcase, directed by Robin Lewis and Louis Goldberg. Check it out!!
Chasing Grace
Kiley was grateful to be a part of the virtual production of the new musical, Chasing Grace. Written by Elizabeth Addison, directed by DeMone Seraphin, and music directed by Nicholas Place.
“The show is an unforgettable celebration of women finding and owning their power through struggle, joy, heartbreak, and laughter, set in a women’s residential treatment facility. This new musical written by IRNE nominee Elizabeth Addison will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Come experience soul with a touch of reggae, musical theater, hip hop, and rock and roll like never before!”
ISM
Kiley sang her favorite song, “Liability” by Lorde in this exciting production! Directed by John Tedeschi, this devised cabaret addressed the habitudes, ideologies, and situations that we as individuals must endure and change as one and as a whole: Sexism, Racism, Suicide, Mental Health and many other themes were explored through monologue and song.
Check out the audio from her first rehearsal with the band HERE!
JRB Cabaret
Kiley sang “The Flagmaker, 1775” in Rider’s student produced production, celebrating the work of Jason Robert Brown. Directed by Jake Zeff.
Working
Kiley was thrilled to understudy Woman 3 as a part of Rider University’s production of the 2012 Revised Version of Working: The Musical. Directed by T. Oliver Reid, musically directed by Andy Hudson, and presented as a virtual production.